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The worst scrub in the world!

I received this body scrub as part of a gift set from my sister.

It looked so perfect in the tub and I have only just got round to using it in the last few months.
It is bright yellowy/orange in colour and it comes in a large tub. You scoop the scrub out with your fingers and massage it into your skin.
The first time I used it was a few months ago. The scrub isn't very effective. It doesn't feel like it actually does anything at all. It is not harsh enough to exfoliate. I also found that it left a layer of grease on my skin that felt heavy and I couldn't rinse it off no matter how hard I tried. When I rubbed water over my arms it was as though I was just rubbing it in. I could not rinse it off. I had applied it to my arms and legs. It was invisible on my skin, but I could feel it and it was very unpleasant.
It was a traumatic experience, but a few weeks later I tried it again and thought maybe I'd used too much of it. I was rather scared so only applied the tiniest amount and found that it was ok - still rubbish, but not as greasy and heavy, but I don't feel like I give it a proper go on that occasion.
Tonight I tried this body scrub out again. I was brave and applied a bit more tonight, but not loads. It has left my skin feeling unpleasant and I can feel that there is a product on my skin. It is heavy. Again it felt like I couldn't rinse it off properly in the shower.
The scent of mango is nice in the tub, but it is not very strong when the scrub is in use and after using it it smells like plastic.
I don't like to throw out products that I haven't used up as it is a waste, but this is one of the worst products I have ever used up there with pound shop nail polish remover wipes (2 pots for £1 - tragic)!
If you have bought a gift set with this body scrub in as a gift for someone for Christmas I recommend either taking it back and replacing it with a nice gift or reallocating it to your mother-in-law! Haha!

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Well at least the smell was nice...

*The purchase*

This is a review of Boots Fairtrade Extras Mango Sugar Scrub. I usually use exfoliators but wanted to try a sugar scrub as something new. This is (obviously) only available from Boots and is usually £8.00 a tub however I bought it on a 3 for 2 with two other products, and from checking in at Boots quite frequently it seems that this scrub is often included on the 3 for 2 offers. For the price and size of the tub (400ml) I was satisfied with value for money.

*The product*

This is part of the Boots Fairtrade range - which means that some of the ingredients (note - not all of the ingredients) are Fairtrade. The scrub comes in a very attractive organ pot with a mango on the front and ingredients are fully listed on the side. The tub is plastic and clear so you can see the product inside - which is very orange (and thus in-keeping with mango theme).

*Use of product*

On opening the tub it is blatant - yup this is mango! I wouldn't say the scent is too overpowering but it definitely reminds me of mangos. The scrub is very thick in texture - the only way I can describe it is if you imagine the kind of texture you would have if you tipped a load of sugar into a thimble full of water - and you kind of get close. I accidentally let the lid of during use and the water was literally bounces of it, it was so hard!

In any case, a little of this goes a long way as it is so rich. Unfortunately it is very difficult to spread so it takes quite some time to use - especially if you want to scrub your whole body (I gave up and just did my arms and legs).

*Results*

After use there is a distinct smell of mango that lingers around for a bit afterwards, which would be nice if it wasn't for the overpowering smell of petroleum (indeed third on the list of ingredients - petroleum - yuck)! This really does ruin the effect of the scrub and makes me feel actually quite sick.

My skin afterwards does feel very soft and looks bright and clear, but this is absolutely ruined by the filmy layer I feel - almost as if the product isn't washed off properly. Rather than this being residue of the product I think l this may be the shea butter. In their attempt to make the product a scrub and moisturising I think they have gone overboard, Boots should have either way whether they wanted this to be a moisturising exfoliator or a scrub (you can't have it both ways)!

*Other stuff*

It doesn't seem to clog my drain (like some other exfoliating products have done), but it does leave a film of orange around the shower floor which can be a bit of a pain to shift.

*Recommended?*

Unfortunately because of the problems listed above I cannot recommend this. You could probably D.I.Y. yourself something better than this....

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Smells great but S&G do it better Im sorry to say

Body scrubs, we love to hate them. The faff it involves rubbing what can only be described as sand all over your body, and not forgetting the mess it leaves around the bath. But yet despite already having numerous tubs of this, I couldn't help myself with a 3 for 2 offer when in Boots.

The Brand~~~~~~~~Boots Extracts is a boots own brand, but it's a very popular brand of theirs due to it's ethics I think. They are very much a natural brand, with a whole host of lovely smelling products. Another bonus to the brand is that it's organic and contains fair-trade ingredients. "She butter is used in the Boots Extracts range for its beneficial moisturising properties. Our Fairtrade butter is produced by communities in West Africa. By using this source we support their future prosperity."

The Product~~~~~~~~MANGO sugar scrub - "containing natural scrub particles to intensely exfoliate, leaving skin smooth, bright and feeling rejuvenated." It does point out on the packaging also that THIS IS NOT A FOOD, it's a good point they point this out, as it smells so yummy some children (or maybe adults) may have a curiosity to taste it.

Application~~~~~~~~It's states on the packaging that this product will last 24 months, however you won't have a problem using this product up; as I've used it twice but am already a ¼ in I would say. There's not really a true size measurement of how much you use each time; as the product is in a tub, which you then just scoop the product out with your hands. A scoop in your fingers and knuckles does a limb I would say.

I apply scrubs in the bath, so my skin is already wet and the product goes on the skin great. The product is quite oily, which allows it to glide onto the skin and when you rinse it off, you can still feel it on the skin, which has a very smooth texture; even when your dry you can still feel this softness on the skin. What I will say is that I don't think the scrub side of this is that effective; I know I've just said above it leaves the skin smooth, but I believe this is to do with the oil in the product rather than the scrub. Personally from using numerous Soap & Glory scrubs, this really doesn't live up to the same expectations. If you've tried S&G scrubs and find them too harsh, then you will love this product, as it still has a slight rough texture to it, but personally I feel this is a lighter scrub compared to the other harsh ones (which I prefer on a weekly / 2 weekly basis)

Afterwards...~~~~~~~~~The product is only ranked 3 out of 5 stars on Boots, and it appears a running trend there is along the lines of what I have stated, that the product leaves you more smooth than scrubbed . This links in with what this scrub leave behind also. As mentioned I used scrubs in the bath, and unfortunately this product doesn't like to part with the bath once it's emptied. This is a pet peeve of my dads as according to him, it leaves sand marks round the edge of the bath; and has become a bit of a running joke. I think this product is worse than my other scrubs, due to the amount of oil in the product it literally just sticks to the bath and is quite hard to remove. Also a note of warning, this product leaves the oil on the base of the bath too, and when you step into it the following day, be careful not to slip.

Price~~~~ This product is available from Boots and can often be picked up on various 3 for 2 others, they seem to always have running. Bought alone this stands at £7.95 for a 400ml tub (which at a guess of how many times you would use this, it would last max 2 months I feel.)

If I had a choice of Paying £8 for a body scrub, I would go for the Soap & Glory, as I feel I see more of a benefit from their line.

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A good item that is effective

Along with the Mango body wash and body butter there was a sugar scrub and this is one of the strangest products I have used. I have used exfoliators before but this one did not look quite like the products I am used to.

Using the three Mango items together makes sense as it stops a multitude of scents but unless you want to go out smelling like a mango it is best to use this before bed. The smell lingers and while I like it, I can understand that it is not everyone's taste.

There is the same lovely smell that comes from the other products - at least as far as I am concerned - but it was the texture that really got me. This was part of a gift so I can't say how much this will have cost It is one of the Boots fair trade range and as with the other products it appears to be the shea butter that is the fair trade product. All the information for use is on the tub and it even states that this is not food so don't eat it!!

The only complaint I would have is that there seems to be very little in the way of the sugar/rough product. You can feel it a bit when it goes on but other brands will provide a better ratio. I still only need to use a small amount and used with a shower scrunchy the skin does get a good exfoliation. The best bit for me was a patch of sunburn that remained as little brown patches has almost gone. I have had to use it a few times to notice a difference but it is definitely there.

The smell is very sweet and can seem a bit sickly when combined with the other mango products but alone it is nice.

It comes in the same sort of tub as the body butter and is the same colour product but much more solid. It comes out easily enough and there is not a lot of the product needed to make my skin feel much better.

It comes in 200ml and 400ml tubs and should not be stored in direct sunlight. I don't know if this makes it ineffective or will just make it go soft but I have stored it the way they suggest. The 400ml tub costs £7.95 but often Boots do these products 3 for 2 so it will not be too expensive.

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Not worth the money

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Expensive Extracts~~~~~~~~~~~~~I do like to use a body scrub in the shower once or twice a week - and for me the scrubbier the better! I do like my scrubs to be a bit 'scratchy' so it feels as if I'm really exfoliating the skin.

This scrub is part of the Boots Extracts range. This range reminds me a lot of Body Shop products, with similar fragrances and packaging - but the products are cheaper. Having said this, every single time I look at the products in-store the prices seem to have gone up so they may catch up with the Body Shop at some point! A 400ml tub of body scrub now costs £7.95, and you'll get 28 Boots Advantage Card points with your purchase. And if you are a mango fan you can also get a matching shower gel and body butter.

~~~~~~~~~~Smoother skin~~~~~~~~~~I actually received this scrub as part of a giftset over Christmas (and actually I would suggest this is the best and cheapest way to try out Extracts products). The scrub promises to "intensely exfoliate, leaving skin smooth, bright and feeling rejuvenated". The key ingredient in the scrub is sustainably sourced and fairtrade organic mango extract.

Opening up this big tub in the shower the first thing you notice is the colour! If you use this first thing in the morning and you're a bit bleary eyed you may get a bit of a fright ... The scrub is a bright orangey-yellow colour and it is certainly eye-catching! You can tell to look at it that it has a very thick texture - you could turn the tub upside-down and give it a good shake and the contents wouldn't budge. Scooping this up, it does indeed feel very thick and it has a slight oily feel to it. You can also smell the scrub straight away and I love the smell of this - it has a lovely, intense mango scent which is rich and fruity. Yum!

I find this pretty easy to apply to the skin. I just take a small blob in my hand and rub it over the skin - as it's thick it sort of 'sticks' to your hand as you apply it so it makes it easy enough to give skin a good scrub. The first thing I notice, however, is that it isn't quite scrubby enough for me - it has quite a smooth texture so it doesn't have the roughness I usually like in a scrub. Having said this, it still feels really nice on the skin, but it feels more like you are giving the skin a good rub with a flannel or shower puff than a good scrub! You can also definitely feel the oil in the product which I think adds to the smoothness of the texture.

~~~~~~~~Oily residue~~~~~~~~I wasn't really convinced by this scrub at this stage - and washing it off didn't help. It is actually quite tricky to wash off this scrub due to the thick, oily texture - and after washing it leaves an unpleasant oily residue on the skin which it's pretty impossible to remove just with water. After using a shower puff and shower gel the obvious residue goes easily enough, although skin still has a slightly oil feel to it despite using a shower gel. This isn't really a bad thing - and it certainly feels as though this scrub is moisturising the skin with all that oil!

~~~~~~~~~A low scorer~~~~~~~~~Overall I don't think I can really recommend this scrub. It isn't awful, but I personally don't feel it is a good enough exfoliator for me, and the oily residue it leaves after washing off is quite unpleasant. However it does smell good, and it does give the skin a bit of a moisture boost. So it's two and a half stars - but I'm rounding down to two stars because it isn't worth nearly £8!

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Ok product, but there are cheaper versions out there

I enjoy using sugar scrubs and have tried many over the years, in addition I am a big fan of the Boots Extracts range. I was given a set of the Mango for christmas, which included 200ml of the body butter, 200ml shower gel and 200ml sugar scrub. I'm not sure how much this retailed at but a 400ml sugar scrub currently retails at £7.95 on the Boots website.

The product comes in a round, clear tub with an orange lid. On the lid is a description of the product, a picture of two juicy mangoes and a statement saying that the product contains 'natural particles to intensely exfoliate, leaving skin smooth, bright and feeling rejuvenated'.

The product states that it is organic and contains shea butter. I do find this to be a bit misleading as only the mango is fairtrade and organic, the rest of the ingredients are not. For this reason I will knock a Dooyoo star off the overall rating. On the back of the tub are directions for use, the product is dermatologically tested and there is also a wesbite www.fairtrade.org.uk that explains what fairtrade is all about, this I found quite useful. The tub also states that after use surfaces may become slippery, this is true so it is best to scrub out the shower or bath after use to avoid accidents.

Having a round tub is excellent as it allows you to get all of the product out without any wastage and this therefore means it is a bit better value for money, this product last me many months, though I do not use it weekly.

Inside the tub the product is protected with a foil lid that is easy to remove. The product is thick and slightly oily, this I assume is from the shea butter content. I scoop out a small amount and use on problem areas such as my legs. The product rubs over the skin well and definatley removes rough dull skin, it leaves my skin softer after use, but not much brighter, it rinses off well and dissolves well in water.

The mango scent is quite strong and fruity, which I find can be a bit sickly, though it does not tend to linger on the skin, like the body butter.

I use this product sporadically, so cannot testify to any long term benefits, but when I do use it, I am pleased with the overall results. I would recommend this to others, although I have used cheaper products with similar results.

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Good product, but doesn't last very long.

I think that this Mango Sugar Scrub is good for occasional use, when you have slightly dry skin. This scrub will get rid of any dead skin cells, and it did made a noticeable improvement to my legs, which is where I use it. I think that it is good just after you have shaved/ waxed your legs, to give you a clean/ fresh feeling, and makes your legs really smooth and ready to show off in the summer time. It is also a Fair trade product, which of course I think is a big plus, and for a fair trade and good quality product, this scrub is not too expensive! The Mango smell is quite a sickly sweet smell, so if you don't like over the top sweetness, you may not like the smell of this one. The scrub itself works very well and I would recommend it, but didn't last me very long at all.

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Not for me this one sadly!

When it comes to sugar scrubs and things they are very much something that I buy regulary, use once and never see again till I come to throw them away! The reason for this is basically that I'm a lazy so and so and although I buy them with all the best intentions in the world of using themn I simply never get round to it!

I have tried, in the past other Boots 'Extracts' mango scented products and I really loved the fragrance of them and so the other day I decided that enough was enough I was going to splash out on some sort of body exfoliator with the real intention of using it from now on as summer is fast approaching and my skin looks so dried up!

The Packaging:

The only tub size available to purchase individually is a 400ml tub to the best of my knowledge. It has an orange coloured plastic twist on off/ lid to the top of it on which we are shown a photgraph of a mango on there and told that it is Boots 'Extracts' Mango Sugar Scurb 'Contains natural scrub particles to intensely exfoliate, leaving skin smooth, bright and feeling rejuvinated' and that it is Organic and fairtrade 'A better deal for producers in developing countries' and the size is stated. On a white label on the base of the see through plastic tub we are told a bit about the product and how to use it, warnings are given and so are contact details for Boots. Its an ok looking tub, easy to open and of course informative enough though drop it on your foot you aint half gonna know about it as it is a heavy one this!

A Bit About The Product According To The Information Listed On The Bottom Of The Tub:

Shea butter is used in the Boots Extracts range for its beneficial moisturing properties. Our Fairtrade Shea butter is produced by communities in West Africa, by using the source we support their future prosperity,

Well to use this you simply need to wash your body and rinse it first c(of ourse ladies shaving your bits and bobs if you need to first!) Best used in the shower (you really do need to rinse off well believe me) and all you do is a take a small handful of the moist light orange, smooth and slightly glossy looking scrub that smells absoloutely devine.....fruity and really naturally sweet and rub it over your skin. I do this in circular motions, it doesn't lather up or anything like that and it does slip off the body if you apply too much at a time and then once done to my satisfaction I rinse it off (which takes flipping ages!).

For me though this was rather a let down. The smell is quite simply gorgeous, high quality and smells 'expensive' After using this I got into bed with my other half and he was driven mad by my aroma! However that really was the only plus with this in my case.

Hard to use...like I say it kept sliding out of my hands, this felt a bit too soft and gentle in use on me and I did expect to feel something on my skin buffing me up which I didn't at all. Although this didn't feel like it had anything exfoliating within it I did find this really hard to rinse off and it took me ages till I was satisfied that it was enough so, however my skin felt rather greasy and unnaturally smooth after using this and I did find some scrubby bits stuck to my skin which did make me feel a bit yuk really and not so clean.

My skin felt no real benefits apart from feeling caked in grease really and unnaturally smooth (if thats a benefit lo). May be brilliant for people with horrifically dry, parched skin but mine isn't that bad and I simply wanted a bit of body buffing but I felt slimy and not so great after using this though the smell...like I said lingers ages on the skin after using it and it smells beautiful!

Only available in Boots stores and usually costs £7.92 a tub though at the time of writing this review it is on offer at £5.28.

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2 stars

A while back I reviewed the Mango Body Butter I got for Christmas, and this Mango Body Scrub was part of the same set.

This mango sugar scrub smells exactly the same as its body butter partner - not very strong. You have to deliberately sniff it, and even then the mango scent is very vague. It's more like a mango-flavoured yoghurt than strong-smelling mango, although if you layer the scents from both products the scent is slightly stronger. The smell doesn't linger very long either, although I'm not massively bothered about that because I'd prefer the product to just do the job.

Unscrewing the plastic tub, I was confronted with a thin plastic-y sealer over the top. It wasn't as easy to pull off as it could have been as there is no tab, but maybe I'm being too fussy. Inside, the body scrub looked more like Vaseline than a scrub, although when I touched it I could feel the sugar grains.

To apply, you simply scoop out some of the scrub with your fingers and work in, then rinse off. Scrubs are designed for softening skin, particularly around joints, remove dead skin cells, and stop potential ingrowing hair problems from shaving. Given the choice I do much prefer scrubs in squeezy tubes as they are easier to apply in the shower, the tub doesn't get full of water, and I don't get bits of the scrub stuck under my nails.

As I've only used this scrub a few times, I don't really have any issues with applying it, although I noticed straight away that it wasn't as abrasive as the scrubs I tend to go for and I don't think it worked as well as the Avon or The Pink Cow scrubs I've been using recently. It's also quite greasy, probably because it contains a lot of petroleum, and I think the recipe could do with a bit of adjusting as it's more like a body butter than anything else.

I have to admit that the Fairtrade aspect of both products appeals to me, and Boots states clearly on the tub that the farmers responsible for providing the shea butter that goes into the product get a fair deal. This does mean that the scrub is more expensive, and indeed you may want to wait until Boots have their 3 for 2 offers at Christmas, because full price this 400ml sugar scrub will set you back £7.92. Having said that, you do get a big tub for your money.

Overall, I don't think the smell of a scrub is particularly important as it's going to be rinsed off and replaced with shower gel and then body butter/lotion anyway, but the sugar isn't hard enough to have much impact and it's a bit too greasy for me.

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Another Great Boots/Fairtrade Product

Id expect quite a few mango related reviews today because a few weeks back my mom passed down a lot of mango scented Boots products to me simply because I adore the scent and she cant stand it - I love living with my mom hehe. Im was pretty happy to recieve this 'Boots Extracts Mango Sugar Scrub' because I recently ran out of my normal exfoliator and was it desperate need of a new one - streaky fake tan on my legs on a night out is not a good look so getting this product could not have come at a better time for me. I really do believe that when you use a lot of products from the same range it is better for your skin overall and in this case I was totally right I hope to keep using this scrub for many years to come - its one of the best Ive ever used.

Useful Information:Price: 400ml tub - £7.92 - Very odd pricing there if you ask me!Stockists: Boots & boots.comOther Info: This product is made alongside Fairtrade meaning the people who produce this get a much better deal & also the mango extract and shea butter contained in this scrub is both Fairtrade & organic. Also the scrubby parts in this scrub are totally natural sugar particles which are said to help intensely exfoliate which leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated and much smoother and brighter - fabulous!

This scrub comes in a large 400ml transparent and yellow tub. That is the one thing that annoys me - I think this would be SOO much easier to use and apply if if was in a squeezy tube rather than a tub because I usually end up using too much that way and the top of the tub is murder to get off when you have wet hands but apart from that I have no issues. On the front and base of the tub is all the information you could need about the product: directions for use, shelf life, ingredients, warnings etc and there is also a part about Boots' Fairtrade policies which might be worth a read if your interested in that sort of thing. The packaging could be better in my opinion but its not a major disadvantage.

The scrub itself is a bright yellow colour and SUPER thick when you just look at it in the tub. To look at I actually cant see any of the scrubby bits - but dont worry they are there! A small amount of this applied directly onto damp skin should be enough to cover most of your skin - it goes even further if you use it with exfoliating gloves so it might be worth investing in a pair of those. Around a 50p piece worth is usually enough for me when used with gloves so one tub should last me ages as the tub is quite massive. Oh and it smells absolutely gorgeous - exactly like an actual mango so the scent is very fresh and fruity and quite sweet - its not overpowering but it is good for waking me up on an early morning and the scent lingers on my skin for ages. Sadly I cant detect any of the shea butter fragrance but as the mango scent is so nice Im going to let that one slide.

This definitely works wonders on my skin in particular the more dry areas like elbows and knees but also on the parts which I would consider 'normal'. This definitely leaves my skin feeling so much softer and smoother and it looks brighter and healthier than before I started using this. I love using this before I apply fake tan because it ensures I have literally no streaks at all and even using after it is scrubby enough to keep my skin feeling soft without stripping away any of the fake tan so as an overall product I couldnt be happier. Its not harsh on my skin at all just leaves it much softer and smoother both immediately and over time so I cannot recommend it highly enough - whatever skin type you are as I think this would suit everyone. Definitely use alongside the matching Boots mango products for best results. Go out and get some!